Maindee Stories

Delighted to have had my proposal from the Maindee New Paths fund be accepted. It is a creative project that will involve lots of people from diverse backgrounds to produce a large textile artwork that connects people with their past and present day lives to an area of Newport called Maindee.

In the 1960s there was an influx of people from Bangladesh and later Africa, Poland, and recently the Gypsy Roma communities.

Through a series of workshops, some of which will be led by myself and visiting professional artists/makers we will be learning from each other, experimenting along the way, growing our networks to create something that will have longevity and be displayed at different venues within the locality and further afield. In my proposal, I said that I wanted the end result to be something of 'Museum quality.' I wonder if I've bitten off more than I can chew? Brian Selby (an elder at Community House) teases me about this grand statement every time I see him.

Aim high has always been my motto! I wonder who will get the last laugh.

Since publishing this post, Maindee Stories was included in the 'Monmouthshire Women Making Change' exhibition, held in Abergavenny Museum. The exhibition won a prestigious Community History Network Award too!

http://gov.wales/topics/environmentcountryside/making-a-difference-on-the-ground/south-wales-east/cynefin/?lang=en